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Good to hear from you Key Notes . It's nice to hear you've enjoyed your summer. It's been hot here (for me), but it is beginning to cool down nicely. I really enjoy Autumn here on the east coast so I'm happy about the upcoming season change.

Thanks Waltz. It's good that you are enjoying your seasonal changes. While I prefer the warm weather climate myself, I can also appreciate all of the beauty and activities that each season has to offer as well.

I was listening to your Bach's "Musette in D" and those jumps seemed quite challenging as you've aptly pointed out, but I'm sure that you must have conquered them by now. Definitely a nice little heads-up for me when I get to book 3.

Originally Posted By: Always Wanted to Play Piano

And here is my Festive Dance. I have already moved on, but it took me quite some time to get a recording I didn't hate. And, (not to channel Montgomery Burns here or anything), I don't hate this one.

I liked Festive Dance, and for the most part, didn't mind the time I took on it. On the other hand, there are about 3 errors I made over and over and over, and that is frustrating. "Ok, here it comes, do it right this time... ARGH!"

I complained to my PT about the Horowitz Scherzo next... I find it annoying. She suggested I use it as a warmup exercise, almost like a Czery or Hanon, and see if I could get to playing it really fast. Which, I must say, added interest, and appealed to my competitive nature. So I am working on that and Introduction and Dance, which is a horribly depressing piece of music.

Hi AWtPP, You've been progressing beautifully! I enjoyed listening to this piece as well as the short and cute piece that you played for your 3YO daughter,"Tarantella", what a sweet image.

Originally Posted By: Music_in_Me

Good news for all of us!

I haven't touched this piece in about 8 years...never seen it again, never heard it again (at least I don't recall that), never thought about it, never, never, never...yet played it and recorded it in 20 minutes! Now that is cool.

I'm doing Rock-a My Soul, and I'm trying to justify the specified fingering, and I juat can't understand why they would choose fingers 3 and 5 on the first notes of bar 10 (the first 2 notes of line 4). Sure, I understand that the provided fingering is not etched in stone, but it is clear that fingers 1 and 3 would be more logical, especially when you consider the next note.

Could someone look this up? ... just to see if this is as obvious as I think it is! Or may be let me know if I'm missing something.

I have just started book 2 and it seems that Guantanamera the 6th and 8th measure seems to make the song sound correct I have to play the last 2 fingers of the F cord at the same time that i hit the last B on the right hand? Do the notes always have to line up perfectly or did i just discover something. The song seems to get off beat if I try to leave a slight delay. Can anyone shed some light on this for me, thanks

I have just started book 2 and it seems that Guantanamera the 6th and 8th measure seems to make the song sound correct I have to play the last 2 fingers of the F cord at the same time that i hit the last B on the right hand? Do the notes always have to line up perfectly or did i just discover something. The song seems to get off beat if I try to leave a slight delay. Can anyone shed some light on this for me, thanks

Here's measure 6:

I added the counting in to hopefully help you see how you'd do this. So here's how you'd play it, one hand at a time, stating the note/action and then the count for how long you'd 'hold' that note/action in parens.

Right hand: Rest (1 + 2 + 3) D (+) E(+) F (+)

Left Hand: B (1 + 2) FG (+) FG (3 + ) Rest (4 +)

So when you play the last F&G with the left hand, you hold it for a full count (in this you'd hold it when saying '3 and'). When you are on the 'and' of '3 and' you also play the D with the right hand, so you're playing the B during the last half of the F&G note.

Thank you Nancy. Keeping count seems to be a weakness of mine, you think I should go over book 1 again? Problem is I pretty much memorized every song by now, so that probably won't help me. I guess I will just try to pay close attention to it from now on. I find myself a lot of times just playing the song and seeing what happens without counting

I don't think you necessarily need to go back over book 1. I find it really helps if I try and count out the music even before I play it on the piano. I'll even write it in with a pencil to help myself remember the timing on the tricky bits. My piano teacher will often draw a line from top to bottom when a RH and LH note needs to be played at the same time. I see this in a few places on Guantanamera, so I obviously needed the reminders

That's why I insist on the "Music in Me Index Finger Method" (tongue in cheek), which I use before I play any song, which is basically a way to ensure that one does the right counting and feels each note with his/her finger.

A typo correction to your statement that "...so you're playing the B during the last half of the F&G note.". Here you meant D, not B.

That's why I insist on the "Music in Me Index Finger Method" (tongue in cheek), which I use before I play any song, which is basically a way to ensure that one does the right counting and feels each note with his/her finger.

A typo correction to your statement that "...so you're playing the B during the last half of the F&G note.". Here you meant D, not B.

Ah - thanks for that correction. You must be the person I remember who has posted before that you do the counting with your finger. I think it's a great method, very simple, but effective. I sometimes have to remind myself to do it on even the 'simpler' music as sometimes 'simple' can be deceptive

I woke up this morning and now I am able to play it, funny how that happens. Hopefully one day I will get to a point where i can just take a brand new piece that i never seen before and be able to play it correctly without having to track down a recording.

Nice to hear from you again. Did you finish the Coate's Canon in D? Are you in Book 3?

Hi! I'm still reading posts, but not posting much myself. Call me a lurker

I sort of finished the Coate's Canon in D. I don't play it everyday anymore but every couple of days. It's such a pretty piece. I did play it for my piano teacher when I started my lessons up (and totally screwed up two areas where i couldn't get my fingers to do the right thing. Figures).

I'm taking a break from Alfred right now and working on pieces for the level 3 exam. It gives me something to work towards, and I'm enjoying the songs that we picked for me to work on. I also think it'll be good to really polish some songs vs a lot of what we do in Alfred is get most of the way there, and then move on. Later I might decide doing the exam was nutso.

Level 3 exam! Which exam is it and where/when will you take it? That's really exciting. Also, if you don't mind, I'd love to know the pieces and other things you must learn and perform to pass. I've done some research on the British version and level 3 is no joke, some advanced stuff was there. Is the British test offered in America?

Key Notes,

Thanks . I just started with a new teacher a month or two ago. It's working very well, and I can see the way I play and practice changing. I am also working, as a long term project, on Clementi's Sonatina op.36 no.1. I sort of have the first movement down, but it needs work. I just began the second movement yesterday.

Thanks . I just started with a new teacher a month or two ago. It's working very well, and I can see the way I play and practice changing. I am also working, as a long term project, on Clementi's Sonatina op.36 no.1. I sort of have the first movement down, but it needs work. I just began the second movement yesterday.

An excellent idea indeed in getting a good instructor, and glad to know that things are working out for you in this regard.

Clementi's Sonatina Op.36 no.1 is a fun sounding piece and so I presume that it would be super fun to learn as well. At what speed are you aiming for? Spiritoso is what it sounded like to me. Looking forward to hearing your recording of it.

Key Notes

Edited to add: I also liked Clementi's Prelude in D as well. Such a beautifully soothing piece, and I enjoyed listening to Undone's version of it in A3 thread.

Level 3 exam! Which exam is it and where/when will you take it? That's really exciting. Also, if you don't mind, I'd love to know the pieces and other things you must learn and perform to pass. I've done some research on the British version and level 3 is no joke, some advanced stuff was there. Is the British test offered in America?

Key Notes,

Thanks . I just started with a new teacher a month or two ago. It's working very well, and I can see the way I play and practice changing. I am also working, as a long term project, on Clementi's Sonatina op.36 no.1. I sort of have the first movement down, but it needs work. I just began the second movement yesterday.

I'm not sure everything that's involved yet; or how it compares to the British version. What I know so far: I have to memorize three songs; and then be able to play two others with music if I want (those are studies, and not as long as the songs). I also have to be able to do some scales and a formula pattern; which isn't too bad.

They used to have a list of songs on the website to show what to to choose from for each level, but I could only find the popular ones. Here's what we've picked so far:

Hornpipe in B flat Major (Henry Purcell)

The Song of Twilight (Yoshinao Hakada)

Arabesque (Burgmuller)

We still need to select another Study and a Sonatina, which I'll learn more than one movement in, but only have to play a single movement for the exam. (It looks like the Clementi one you are working on is one of the possibilities there) You can also pick a popular piece as teacher's choice, but it's still from the list they have, but it's quite extensive.

The Song of Twilight is quite pretty and I really like it. The Hornpipe one is very challenging for me. I didn't think it would be, but argh! The left hand is supposed to play detached - mostly quarter notes, but the right hand has a lot of stuff going on timing wise and I haven't yet felt like I've mastered even the first line in it. I'm working on all three songs at once right now.

I had not heard of the American branch of Canada's Royal Conservatory of Music. Do you know if you will receive the same diploma as the Canadian version? I tried to download the syllabus, but it instructed me to buy it in a local music store...

Thanks . I just started with a new teacher a month or two ago. It's working very well, and I can see the way I play and practice changing. I am also working, as a long term project, on Clementi's Sonatina op.36 no.1. I sort of have the first movement down, but it needs work. I just began the second movement yesterday.

An excellent idea indeed in getting a good instructor, and glad to know that things are working out for you in this regard.

Clementi's Sonatina Op.36 no.1 is a fun sounding piece and so I presume that it would be super fun to learn as well. At what speed are you aiming for? Spiritoso is what it sounded like to me. Looking forward to hearing your recording of it.

Key Notes

Edited to add: I also liked Clementi's Prelude in D as well. Such a beautifully soothing piece, and I enjoyed listening to Undone's version of it in A3 thread.

Spiritoso is definitely what is called for on the sheet music. Right now, I play the first movement around Adante. I still have a lot of work to do there... I think it is fun having a long term piece to learn. My goal is to have the entire thing playable by Christmas. So no real rush

I had not heard of the American branch of Canada's Royal Conservatory of Music. Do you know if you will receive the same diploma as the Canadian version? I tried to download the syllabus, but it instructed me to buy it in a local music store...

No idea if it'd be the same I haven't seen the syllabus myself yet; the books I'm working on are the "Celebration Series" Repertoire and Studies/Etudes books for level 3. Maybe I'll ask my teacher what is in the syllabus.

I am also working, as a long term project, on Clementi's Sonatina op.36 no.1. I sort of have the first movement down, but it needs work. I just began the second movement yesterday.

Me too! Been tinkering with the first section for a couple weeks now. Very slow going, I must say.

I think this is the one my teacher wants me to play for the exam - and learn all three movements. I'll try and find out this wed at my lesson. If that's the case, I'd love to compare notes with you both as we all go through it

AWTPP, are you playing the third and fourth beats of the "theme" (the repeated motif of the first measure) in staccato? My score has the staccato indication as sort of an optional dynamic, but I think it sounds best that way.

AWTPP, are you playing the third and fourth beats of the "theme" (the repeated motif of the first measure) in staccato? My score has the staccato indication as sort of an optional dynamic, but I think it sounds best that way.

Trying to, but it's not an area of focus right yet. The music does indicate those notes should be played staccato. I am trying to learn (and by learn, I mean "ingrain") the correct fingering of the melody, especially starting in measure 6. Measure 7 (among others) is extremely counter-intuitive for me. I feel like I need to be able to play these things in my sleep, and I'm nowhere close at this time.

And to keep from derailing this as an Alfred's Book 2 discussion... this is much tougher than anything I have seen in Alfreds.

It seems Theme from the Overture Raymond went pretty smooth, and Light and Blue I found also to be easy, it is very similar style to a blues song in book 1. I'm now on Hungarian Rhapsody #2 which doesn't really seem all that difficult, its just a matter of doing it over and over until the timing is right. It tells you to get gradually faster but if you go too fast it just doesn't sound right.

One note about "Light and Blue" the tremolo at the end of the song? I just can't seem to do it, pianonoob on youtube makes it seems so easy but I just can't seem to do it.

It seems Theme from the Overture Raymond went pretty smooth, and Light and Blue I found also to be easy, it is very similar style to a blues song in book 1. I'm now on Hungarian Rhapsody #2 which doesn't really seem all that difficult, its just a matter of doing it over and over until the timing is right. It tells you to get gradually faster but if you go too fast it just doesn't sound right.

One note about "Light and Blue" the tremolo at the end of the song? I just can't seem to do it, pianonoob on youtube makes it seems so easy but I just can't seem to do it.

Hi bobjr,

I can definitely relate with how you feel in regards to the tremolo ending in "Light and Blue". I had the same question and faced the same challenges when I was working on this piece. You can see both my original question, and Undone's helpful answers below. Perhaps you'll also find them to be helpful.

You can do it! Best of luck to you.

Key Notes

Quote:

Hi, Can someone please tell me how I should be playing the final (ending) chords in the piece "Light and Blue" on pg. 17 as "Tremolo"? I haven't encounter this technique before so I just wanted to make sure that I'm learning it correctly.

I listened to John Frank's example posted on the first page of this thread (very nice btw JF), as well as try to look for some YouTube videos but couldn't find any.

I recognized that they have an illustration at the bottom right hand corner of pg. 17, and it looks like I should be playing the notes seperately, kind of like an Arpeggio style? Except in this case, play the bB and the D at the same time for the right hand, then the E?

And for the left hand, play the low C first, then the high C?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Key Notes \:\)

Quote:

Key Notes, I donâ€™t have my music here with me right now but I think I know what you are referring to (or I might be completely off base). I think you have the right idea as far as how the notes are sounded. The fun part comes when you quickly alternate between the high and low notes with each hand. Itâ€™s more of a wrist action then a finger action. To start out with you could just play two notes with each hand (1st and 5th fingers) and just keep them going back and forth, then add the additional key to the right hand. Think of a â€śdrum rollâ€ť sort of action.

Hereâ€™s one clip I found showing how to play a Tremolo with one hand (in a different song): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEvBiwxpids Just do the same thing with both hands, add the extra note, and your all set. \:\)

I'm doing Calypso Carnival which has a very easy RH, but a tricky LH. Still unable to record it because of the LH, but will do so hopefully quickly. The interesting thing is that for Book 1, a song was done when the teacher says ok, or whenever I felt it was good enough. Now with Book 2, it's not over till the recording says so! I have no teacher by the way, and I don't think my issue right now is a teacher...I know what I need to do, it just takes time to do it. I will get a teacher after finishing Book 3, or half way through it.

I'm doing Calypso Carnival which has a very easy RH, but a tricky LH. Still unable to record it because of the LH, but will do so hopefully quickly. The interesting thing is that for Book 1, a song was done when the teacher says ok, or whenever I felt it was good enough. Now with Book 2, it's not over till the recording says so! I have no teacher by the way, and I don't think my issue right now is a teacher...I know what I need to do, it just takes time to do it. I will get a teacher after finishing Book 3, or half way through it.

Cool, I really liked Calypso Carnival.As far as you needing a teacher, while they are extremely helpful for me, you seem to play very well and musically without, so I'd say go for it. So, once you get your recording you don't play/practice the song anymore?

With little time left for anything else, once I'm done with a piece, I only play 2-5 times max the next few days, then move on, which is really a bad idea. I'm thinking of starting a reportoire to include all the pieces I like, so that I can do it on a daily basis and be ready to play it anytime, but I haven't done that yet. I'm doing chords, circle of 5th's, playing by ear, etc., which also takes time.